Jonesboro SSDI Lawyer

In order to receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) payments in Jonesboro, your eligibility will be based on your work capacity. The Social Security Administration (SSA) defines “disabled” as the inability to work.

When assessing your work capability, the SSA factors in your current income. If you can financially support yourself, the SSA might not consider you “disabled.” The income limits for disability benefits are revised yearly by the SSA. This implies that if you are deemed unable to work, you might be qualified for gradually increasing benefits.

Call our SSDI lawyers at (479) 316-0438 to receive your free case assessment today.

Understanding Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) in Jonesboro

In order to receive disability payments from the Social Security Administration (SSA), individuals must meet certain qualifications to prove they are classified as “disabled.” While having a qualifying condition is important, the severity of the disability is even more crucial. The SSA requires the disability to be severe enough to prevent the individual from working to accept it as “disabling” for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Fortunately, our SSDI attorneys can assist you in determining whether you qualify for benefits. It is also possible for the SSA to make exceptions for individuals with conditions not listed as long as they are equally as severe as the accepted conditions.

How the Severity of Your Condition Is Determined

The SSA evaluates the severity of a medical condition based on its impact on your ability to work. If you are unable to move or transport yourself, it is likely that you are unable to work. Additionally, if you require help with tasks such as filling out applications, you might be eligible for SSDI. The SSA will consider your work experience and capabilities to determine if you are able to perform other types of work. For instance, if you previously worked in an office but then switched to construction work, disability might prevent you from performing construction tasks, but you might still be able to do office work. To qualify for SSDI, it is usually necessary to be completely unable to work due to a medical condition.

Other Ways Eligibility Is Determined

In Jonesboro, individuals can still apply for disability benefits even if they are capable of completing some job-related tasks. The Social Security Administration takes multiple factors into account and does not make definitive determinations regarding disability. They recognize that certain disabilities might be more suitable for certain types of work. Therefore, those who are able to work in some capacity are not automatically excluded from receiving SSDI benefits. The SSA assesses an individual’s earning potential, and eligibility is based on this evaluation.

How to Calculate SSDI Benefits in Jonesboro

In order to be eligible for benefits through the SSDI program, it is required that you have paid into Social Security for a minimum of five years within a ten-year timeframe. If you have not worked for at least five years or made contributions to the system, you will not be able to receive any benefits.

Social Security Administration Calculations

After five years of unemployment, disability insurance eligibility ends for those who have contributed to the system. To receive SSDI benefits, it is necessary to prove that the disability requirements were met before the insurance expired. The timeline for this varies on a case-by-case basis, taking into account each person’s employment history.

The Social Security Administration calculates your monthly SSDI benefit using a formula. Typically, SSDI payments range around $1,358 per month. The amount of Social Security taxes paid over your life determines the monthly SSDI payment.

To determine the monthly benefit for SSDI, the SSA uses an “average indexed monthly earnings” (AIME) formula based on your average covered earnings over a few years. Your AIME is then used to calculate your “primary insurance amount” (PIA), which is the monthly payment you will receive.

Determining the Amount of Your Primary Insurance

To determine your monthly benefits and PIA, there are a few methods available. One option is to utilize the Online Benefits Calculator offered by the Social Security Administration. Alternatively, you could sign up for an account with the SSA online, where they will guide you through the necessary steps to determine your benefits.

There are several reasons why your monthly SSDI payment might be subject to deductions. Your payment amount could be reduced by the SSA due to income earned through employment, compensation from Workers’ Compensation, receiving retirement benefits from the SSA, or benefits from other insurance programs.

Why SSDI Benefits Might Be Denied in Jonesboro

It is possible to receive a technical denial for SSDI for several reasons. It is important to understand that this denial does not necessarily imply that the person is not disabled or does not have a severe medical condition. Instead, the SSA might have discovered that there was no medical evidence to review, or the individual might not have fulfilled a particular technical requirement. Below are some typical causes for a technical denial of benefits:

Exceed the Monthly Earnings Limit

Individuals who receive SSDI are required to adhere to monthly income limits known as substantial gainful income (SGA). While these limits apply to all disabled individuals, those who are legally blind are permitted to earn more on a monthly basis before becoming ineligible for benefits. The Social Security benefits income limit for non-blind individuals will be established at $1,470 in 2023, while blind individuals have an SGA limit of $2,460 per month. It is important to stay informed about these limits since the SSA will periodically adjust them.

Exceed the Asset Limit

People with limited assets and resources who need help can benefit from the SSDI program. However, those who want SSDI benefits must undergo a household asset “means testing.” This test limits SSDI beneficiaries to a maximum of $2,000 in assets for individuals and $3,000 for couples. As most beneficiaries have no other income sources, they usually receive the basic monthly SSI benefit, which is currently at $914 for an individual and $1,371 for a couple as of 2023.

Failure to Follow Your Treatment Program or Lack of Medical Evidence

Insufficient medical evidence proving the existence of a disability is a common reason for the rejection of disability claims. The organization handling the claim might not doubt the claimant’s sincerity, but they need more information to confirm the disability. Providing all necessary information during the initial claim or appeal process is crucial to avoid this issue.

Non-compliance with doctor’s orders or treatment programs can occur for various reasons, including the inability to afford medication or treatments. This might impact the determination of Social Security disability benefits by an administrative law judge. Completing the treatment plan is essential in order to obtain the necessary records to support the claim.

Our Jonesboro SSDI Lawyers Can Help

For a free case review with our SSDI attorneys, contact us today at (479) 316-0438.